2022 Côte-Rôtie Les Côtes, Domaine Barge

• Style: Structured Côte-Rôtie, refined tannins, spiced spine
• Taste: Ripe blackberry, olive tapenade, cracked green pepper, mineral bite
• Food: Roasted duck, braised beef, game, aged cheese, mushroom dishes
• Occasion: Date night, gifting, cellar worthy
• Serve: 12% ABV, serve cool; pairs with serious table fare

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

The glass reveals ripe blackberry with an intriguing savoury note of olive tapenade and cracked green pepper, marking genuine maturity. The palate shows fine-grained tannin structure that feels polished rather than aggressive, underpinned by real depth and concentration, ending on a delicate spicy finish that speaks to a serious wine built for the table.

The Winery — Domaine Barge

Seven generations of the Barge family have farmed grapes and crafted wine in Ampuis since 1860, with bottled releases dating to 1929. Julien Barge now leads the domaine, stewarding six hectares across two historic parcels: Le Combard, with its iron-rich volcanic earth and steep terraced slopes acquired in 2000, and La Côte Brune, purchased in 1954. Hand-harvested fruit — some whole-cluster fermented in concrete — settles into French oak for 18 months without excessive manipulation. The 2022 vintage benefited from ideal sunshine and timely rain on those slopes, delivering clean, concentrated fruit that required minimal cellar intervention. All vineyard work follows organic practices, a discipline the family has maintained since 2018.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Serve this Côte-Rôtie alongside roasted duck, braised beef, game birds, or mushroom-forward dishes; it also harmonises beautifully with aged cheese. At 12% alcohol, it drinks with restrained elegance despite its structured backbone. This is a wine for serious occasions—date nights, memorable gifts, or your growing cellar. Explore more of our Syrah & Shiraz selection, discover the broader depth of our France collection, and browse our Full Bodied Red Wine range.